Stepping device



March 27, 1956 H. SENGEBUSCH STEPPING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1950 INVENTOR. HANS SENGEBUSCH ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 H. SENGEBUSCH 2,739,485

STEPPING DEVICE Filed May 19, 1950 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

IN VEN TOR. HANS SENGEBUSCH ATTORNEY United States Patent STEPPING DEVICE Hans Sengebusch, Villa Park, 11]., assignor to Automatic Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Application May 19, 1950, Serial No. 162,935

11 Claims. (Cl. 74-111) The present invention relates in general to stepping apparatus and more particularly to improvements in switching apparatus of the 'two motion or fiat rectilinear type.

it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved stepping unit which is positive in operation and is compact and economical 'to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stepping device having an improved restoring mechanism for returning the switch to normal and at the same time storing potential energy for subsequent stepping operation.

A feature of the invention relates to the novel spring driven escapement mechanism wherein full stepping is accomplished irrespective 'of the pulse width or magnitude.

Another feature relates to the use of a common restoring motor to restore the switch to normal.

Other objects and features will be evident and a complete understanding of the construction and operation may be had from a perusal of the description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the new and improved spring driven escapement mechanism with the restoring mechanism.

Fig. 2 shows a top view of one embodiment of the invention wherein Wipers are moved in one plane in two directions at right angles to each other.

Figure 3 shows a cut-away top view of the main gear and coil spring.

Referring now in detail to the drawings the switch mechanism is supported on a flat base plate 1. Main gear 2, rotatably mounted on the base plate 1, having an associated coil spring 49 within housing 3, serves as the driving mechanism for moving rack 4. Escapement pinion 5, also rotatably mounted on base plate 1, is permanently meshed with main gear 2 as well as with rack 4. Star wheel 6, rigidly secured to escapement pinion 5, serves as the escapement means, in cooperation with other members of the switch mechanism hereinafter described, for insuring proper single stepping operation. Star wheel 6, when released, allows the stored energy in coil spring 49 to release, causing rotation of main gear 2. This rotation, of course, will be transferred to escapement pinion 5, and thence as rectilinear motion to rack 4. Release stop 7 normally holding star wheel 6 and consequently main gear 2. :from rotating, is pivotally mounted on L-shaped member 8. Member '8, is rotatably mounted on shaft 9 and is rotatable only between two upwardly extending lugs on coupler support 12, the tension of spring 49 through star wheel 6 normally overcomes the tension of spring 11 and holds element 8 against its left hand stop. Coupler support 12 in turn, is rotatably mounted on main gear shaft 9. Release stop 7, once released from engagement with star Wheel 6 in an action hereinafter described, will be pulled back to normal by spring 10, which is anchored to L-shaped member 3. Spring 11 also tends to bring release stop 7 back to normal or rather to an engaging position and is anchored 2,739,485 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 to coupler support 12. Spring 11 is also provided in order to move release stop 7 out of engagement with pawl 13 once said pawl' 13 causes release stop 7 to be moved away from star wheel 6. Pawl 13, shaped to hook release stop 7, is pivotally mounted on stepping magnet armature 14. Stepping magnet 15, secured to base plate 1, actuates armature 14, which in turn pulls pawl 13 and release stop 7 away from star wheel 6. Spring 16, anchored to armature 14, tends to maintain pawl 13 latched or hooked with release stop 7. Retractile spring 17, anchored to heel piece pin 18, pulls armature 14 back to normal after the de-ene'rgization of stepping magnet 15.

Release magnet 19, also secured to base plate 1, has an associated armature 20 that is permanently engaged with coupler support 12. A coupler gear 22, rotatably mounted on coupler support 12, is permanently meshed with main gear 2 and is normally held away from restoring driving member 23, shown in the preferred embodiment as a pinion, by the engagement of coupler support 12 with notch 24a of rotatably mounted latch 24. Restoring driving pinion 23 is rotatably mounted on the same shaft as bevel gear 26. A motor '28 drives bevel driving gear 27, which in turn drives bevel gear 26 and, of course, restoring driving pinion 23. This common shaft for bevel gear 26 and pinion 23 could be extended and equipped with similar restoring pinions and associated switch mechanisms. Spring 21, attached between release armature 20 and latch 24, is provided to rotate said latch 24 clockwise as armature 20 is actuated in order to lock coupler support 12 into notch 24b of latch 24 and thus lock coupler gear 22 and restoring driving pinion 23 meshed together. Pin 25, rigidly secured to main gear 2, is provided for releasing coupler support 12 from notch 24b at the end of the restoring period by striking arm 240 of latch 24.

Rack '4 moves in only one direction, but with proper change over mechanism two motion selecting movements may be effected, as is well known in the art. Accordingly, a change over relay 30 is rigidly secured to base plate 1 and has an associated armature 31 that moves T-member 32 downward when actuated. Change over key 33, normally engaged with rack 4 in slot 412 and pivotally attached to carriage 35, is moved into engagement with one of the notches of keyway member 34 by the downward movement of T-member 32. Key 33 and keyway member 34, with their necessary associated equipment above enumerated, are provided so that carriage 35 will be held stationary after said carriage 35 has been stepped to the desired row. Carriage rack driving gear 37 is rotatably mounted on carriage 35 and is permanently meshed with rack 4. Gear 37 is provided so that movement of rack 4 will be transferred to carriage rack 36 after carriage 35 has been held in a fixed position by means of key 33 and keyway member 34. Guides 39 and 40 and gear 38, rotatably mounted on carriage 35, direct and guide carriage rack 36. Contacts 41 rigidly attached to carriage rack 36 make contact with the desired position in the desired row of bank contacts 42. Guides 44 and 45 and support 46, rigidly secured to base plate 1, guide, direct and support rack 4. Guide 47 and gear 43, rotatably mounted on carriage 35, together with carriage rack driving gear 37, maintains carriage 3S slidably mounted on rack 4. Spring 48 is provided to bring change over key 33 back to normal after it has been moved out of engagement with rack 4 and into engag ment with one of the slots of keyway member 34.

A brief description of the switch operation will now be given. The switch as shown in Fig. 2 is in normal position with the coil spring 49 within housing 3 tensioned. Main gear 2, being attached to the outer end of the coil spring, therefore has a tendency to rotate counterclockwise. Escapement pinion 5, being permanently meshed with main gear 2 and prevented from rotating by the engagement of release stop 7 with its star wheel 6, will act as a brake and holding means for preventing rotation of main gear 2 due to the coil spring tension. It will be noted that coupler gear 22 is not engaged with restoring driving pinion 23 at this time although it is permanently meshed with main gear 2.

Assuming it is desired that the contacts 41 be stepped to the fifth row and fourth position in that fifth rowa series of five impulses followed by a series of four impulses will be required. Stepping magnet 35 is, of course, included in a well known stepping circuit (not shown) and will respond to the impulses. It should be understood that the first complete operation of the stepping mechanism for rack 4 will be exactly similar to each succeeding operation so that it will be necessary to describe the first operation only in detail. Responsive to the first impulse received over the stepping circuit, stepping magnet 15' will energize and attract its armature 14. Pawl 13, normally catching or hooking release stop 7, will be shifted by the action of armature 14 causing the movement or" release stop 7 a distance far enough to clear completely star wheel 6. The stored up energy produced by the tensioned coil spring 49 will now be unrestrained resulting in the rotation of main gear 2 and consequently escapement pinion 5. It should be noted that main gear 2 and escapement pinion 5 will rotate counterclockwise and clockwise respectively. When release stop 7 is pulled away from star wheel 6, spring 11, now being unrestrained will cause release stop 7 to be moved away and out of engagement with pawl 13. Thus it should be noted that the operation of this mechanism is completely independent of pulse width as prolonged energization of stepping magnet 15 will have no effect. After spring 11 causes release stop 7 to be moved out of enga ement with pawl 131, spring 10, now being unrestrained, will cause release stop 7 to be moved against the star wheel 6. Release stop 7 will then be in a perfect position for catching the next point of star wheel 6narnely, 6a. Star wheel 6 and escapement pinion 5 will thus be arrested and prevented from any further rotation. The gear ratios are such that one quarter turn of escapement pinion 5 (the angular distance between two adiacentpoints on star wheel 6) will result in the movement of rack 4 one full step to the right on Fig. 2. Upon the de-energization of stepping magnet 15, springs 16 and 17 will pull pawl 13 back to engagement with release stop 7. The stepping mechanism is now conditioned for similar subsequent operation.

At the end of the first series of 5 impulses change over relay 3% will energize (circuit now shown) and cause armature 31 and T-rnember 32 to move downward. Change over key 33 now being opposite the fifth slot of keyway member 34 will be moved into engagement with said slot by the action of T-member 32. Carriage 35 will thus be anchored and contacts 41 will be opposite the fifth row of bank contacts i2. Assuming that change over relay St) is only energized until after the first impulse of the second series, key 33 will be held in the slot of keyway 34 by the pressure of surface 4a of rack 4 which will now be opposite section 33a of key 33. The next series or" 4 impulses will step rack 4- exactly as hereinbefore described. However, responsive to this series of steps, carriage rack driving gear 37, being rotatably mounted on the now stationary carriage 35, will be caused to rotate from the movementof rack As rack 4 moves to the right, carriage rack driving gear 37 will r0- tate clockwise and in turn will drive carriage rack 36 toward the bank contacts 42. The contacts 41 will, of course, step over to the fourth position. The switch has now completed its operation and connection has been made to the desired set of contacts.

When it is desired to release the switch and bring same back to normal, release magnet 19 will energize through a circuit not shown and attract its armature 20. Coupler support 12, being engaged with armature 243, will therefore rotate clockwise as said armature 26 is pulled toward release magnet 19. As coupler support 12 is rotated slightly it will move away from notch 24a of latch 24. However, the movement of release armature 29 will also pivot arm 24d of latch 2d clockwise through the agency of spring 21 and cause the entire latch 24 to rotate slightly. Thus, as coupler support 12 is pulled away from latch 24 and out of engagement with notch 24a, said latch 24 will-rotate clockwise and cause the engagement of coupler support 12 with notch 24b. Coupler support 12 will now be held in its rotated position after the deenergization of release magnet 19. Coupler gear 22, being rotatably mounted on coupler support 12, will therefore move toward and actually engage restoring driving pinion 23. Motor 2% driving bevel gear 2-6 will maintain restoring driving pinion 23 rotated in a clockwise rotation. Once coupler gear 22 is engaged with revolving pinion 23 said gear 22 will be rotated counter-clockwise and, being permanently meshed with main gear 2, will cause said main gear 2 to rotate clockwise. Escapement pinion 5 will rotate counterclockwise causing rack 4 to be moved to the left. The motor will thus indirectly rotate main gear 2 against the tension of coil spring 49. Movement of gear 2 in a clockwise direction will rewind spring 49. Release stop 7 will offer no resistance as the slope of the star wheel points on one side will move said stop 7 out of engage ment. It should be remembered that carriage 35 is anchored to the base plate 1 through the agency of keyway 34- at the beginning of the releasing operation so the initial movement of rack 4 will operate carriage rack as in reverse and bring same back to normal. At that time section 33a of change over key 33 will be directly opposite slot 4b of rack 4 and spring 43 now being unrestrained Will cause said section 33a to move into said slot 412. Carriage 35 once again will be anchored to rack 4 and will move along therewith. When main gear 2 has rotated back to normal pin 25 will pivot arm 240 of latch 24 and cause the disengagement of coupler support 12 from notch 24b. Spring 21 will pull armature 20 and consequently pivot coupler support 12 so that said coupler support 12 will engage notch 24a. Coupler gear 22 is now held away from revolving restoring driving pinion 23 and the switch has assumed its normal position as shown in Fig. 2.

Having described my invention in detail, what I claim and desire to be protected by issuance of Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a stepping device, a rack, a gear, a coil spring rigidly secured to said gear and normally tensioncd for imparting a potential driving force to said gear, transfer means between said gear and said rack for causing the movement of said gear by said force to cause movement of said rack, a stop normally positioned for arresting said transfer means to thereby prevent said gear from moving, means including a magnet for releasing said stop, and means operated by release of said stop for autc matically returning said stop to normal regardless of the condition of said magnet to thereby prevent more than a predetermined distance of movement of said rack.

2. in a stepping device, a rack, a gear, a coil spring rigidly secured to said gear and normally tensioned for imparting a potential driving force to said gear, transfer means between said gear and said rack for causing the movement of said gear by said force to cause movement of said rack, a stop for arresting said transfer means to thereby prevent said gear from moving, means including a magnet for releasing said stop for effecting a predetermined distance of travel of said rack, a restoring pinion, and means including a coupler gear for causing said pinion to drive said gear to return said rack to normal.

3. In a stepping device, a rack, a gear, a coil spring rigidly secured to said gear and normally tensioned for imparting a potential driving force to said gear, transfer means between said gear and said rack for causing the movement of said gear by sail force to cause movement of said rack, a stop for arresting said transfer means to thereby prevent said gear from moving, and means for releasing said stop for efiecting one full step of said rack, said last mentioned means comprising a magnet, an armature therefor, a star wheel connected to said rack, said armature when actuated disengaging said stop from said star wheel, and a pair of springs connected to said stop, said springs disengaging said stop from said armature and causing it to reengage said star wheel when said magnet energizes so that said rack will be moved only one step regardless of the length of time said magnet is energized.

4. In a stepping device, a rack, a main gear, a coil spring rigidly secured to said main gear and normally tensioned for imparting a potential driving force to said main gear, means including a magnet for causing said main gear to step said rack from its normal position, restoring means comprising a driving member, a single motion driving means for driving said driving member, a coupler gear permanently connected to said main gear, and means for causing said coupler gear to be moved to engage said driving member without disengaging said main gear for restoring said rack back to its normal position.

5. In a stepping device, a rack, a main gear, a shaft for said main gear, means for causing said main gear to step said rack from its normal position, restoring means comprising a release magnet, an armature therefor, a coupler support rotatably mounted on said shaft and connected with said armature, a coupler gear rotatably mounted on said coupler support and permanently meshed with said main gear, a motor driven pinion, said coupler gear engaging said motor driven pinion when said magnet is energized causing said rack to move back to its normal position.

6. In a stepping device as claimed in claim 5, means for disengaging said coupler gear from said motor driven pinion when said rack has restored to its normal position.

7. In a stepping device as claimed in claim 5, a rotatably mounted latch member normally holding said coupler support in one position for preventing engagement of said coupler gear with said motor driven pinion, a spring connecting said latch member and said armature, said armature rotating said latch member when said magnet is energized, whereby said coupler support is held in a second position so that said coupler gear will be locked into engagement with said motor driven pinion regardless of the length of time said magnet is energized.

8. In a stepping device as claimed in claim 7, a pin rigidly secured to said main gear, said pin striking said latch member when said rack has restored to its normal position, whereby said latch member is rotated from its second position to its normal position for causing the disengagement of said coupler gear with said motor driven pinion.

9. In a stepping device, a rack, a main gear, a shaft for said main gear, a coil spring rigidly secured to said main gear and normally tensioned for imparting a potential driving force to said main gear, an escapement pinion connecting said main gear and said rack, a star wheel rigidly secured to said escapement pinion, a cou pler support rotatably mounted on said shaft, an L-shaped member rigidly secured to said coupler support and also rotatably mounted on said shaft, a stop pivotally mounted on said L-shaped member and normally engaging said star wheel for preventing rotation of said main gear by the stored potential energy of said coil spring, a stepping magnet, a stepping ma net armature, a pawl pivotally mounted on said stepping magnet armature and shaped to normally engage said stop, a first spring connected between said stop and said coupler support, a second spring connected between said stop and said L-shaped member, said pawl disengaging said stop from said star wheel when said stepping magnet is energized allowing said main gear to move said rack; whereby said first spring disengages said stop from said pawl, and said second spring pulls said stop against the revolving star wheel causing engagement of the next point of said star wheel for stopping movement of said rack after one full step.

10. In a stepping device as claimed in claim 9, a motor driven restoring pinion, a coupler gear rotatably mounted on said coupler support and permanently meshed with said main gear, a release magnet, a release magnet armature connected to said coupler support, a rotatably mounted latch member normally holding said coupler support in one position and at other times in a second position, a spring connecting said latch member and said armature, a pin rigidly mounted on said main gear, said release magnet armature causing, when said release magnet is energized; the rotation of said coupler support to the second position etfecting the engagement of said coupler gear and said motor driven pinion, and the rotation of said latch member for locking said coupler support in that second position enabling said motor driven pinion to restore said rack to normal; said pin striking said latch member when said rack is restored to normal causing said coupler gear to disengage said motor driven pinion.

11. In a stepping device, a rack, a gear, a stop, a coil spring secured to said gear and normally tensioned for imparting a potential driving force to said gear, transfer means between said gear and said rack, movement of said gear efiective to cause said transfer means to operate said rack, said stop normally positioned to prevent operation of said transfer means, means operated for releasing said stop, means operated by the release of said stop for I returning said stop to normal a predetermined time after release, and means carried by said transfer means for cooperating with said stop to limit the operation of said rack to a predetermined distance for each step.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 208,252 Maxim Sept. 24, 1878 461,144 Thomson Oct. 13, 1891 533,001 Bickford Ian. 22, 1895 651,860 Joyce June 19, 1900 1,117,405 Kurowski Nov. 17, 1914 1,324,401 Magrath Dec. 9, 1919 1,556,713 Pullen Oct. 13, 1925 1,866,808 Ireland July 12, 1932 2,084,803 Hart June 22, 1937 2,175,086 Mitchell Oct. 3, 1939 2,222,217 Solinski Nov. 19, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 694,999 Germany Aug. 14, 1940 

